Drain closure apparatus

ABSTRACT

A drain closure apparatus has a catch basin, a drain, a valve and a valve controller operably connected to the valve. The catch basin has a top, a bottom, an opening in the bottom, and first flange extending radially outward from the top. The drain is disposed within the opening of the catch basin, and has a top, a bottom, a second flange extending radially outward from the top of the drain that attaches to the bottom of the catch basin such that the opening of the catch basin is sealed, and a third flange extending radially outward from the bottom of the drain. The valve is attached to the third flange of the drain such that the valve opens and closes the drain.

PRIORITY CLAIM AND RELATED APPLICATION DATA

Not Applicable.

STATEMENT OF FEDERALLY FUNDED RESEARCH

Not Applicable.

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates in general to drainage control devices.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Storm water pollution prevention regulations have been enacted to helpensure safe water and to keep the environment free of pollutants. Whenpollutants spill into storm drains, hazmat response team reacting withtraditional sand bags, mats, etc. are often too late, which results invery high clean up costs for the contaminated storm drain system.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The drain closure apparatus provides quick, easy open and closeoperation for 24/7 hydrocarbon and sediment Capture, trash control,illicit discharge identification and elimination, effective storm waterpollution abatement and analysis, and proven effective EPA compliancewith storm water pollution prevention regulations. In addition, thedrain closure apparatus can be installed quickly, easily, costeffectively without construction downtime or permits.

One embodiment of the present invention provides a drain closureapparatus having a catch basin, a drain, a valve and a valve controlleroperably connected to the valve. The catch basin has a top, a bottom, anopening in the bottom, and first flange extending radially outward fromthe top. The drain is disposed within the opening of the catch basin,and has a top, a bottom, a second flange extending radially outward fromthe top of the drain that attaches to the bottom of the catch basin suchthat the opening of the catch basin is sealed, and a third flangeextending radially outward from the bottom of the drain. The valve isattached to the third flange of the drain such that the valve opens andcloses the drain.

Another embodiment of the present invention provides a drain closureapparatus having a catch basin, a drain, a valve, a valve controlleroperably connected to the valve, a cylindrically shaped screen, and acylindrically shaped filter disposed around the cylindrically shapedscreen. The catch basin has a top, a bottom, an opening in the bottom,and first flange extending radially outward from the top. The drain isdisposed within the opening of the catch basin, wherein the drain has atop, a bottom, a second flange extending radially outward from the topof the drain that attaches to the bottom of the catch basin such thatthe opening of the catch basin is sealed, and a third flange extendingradially outward from the bottom of the drain. The valve is attached tothe third flange of the drain such that the valve opens and closes thedrain. The valve controller extends into the catch basin through anopening in the second flange. A seal is disposed around a portion of thevalve controller proximate to the opening in the second flange andattached to the second flange. The cylindrically shaped screen has atop, a bottom and a fourth flange extending radially outward from thebottom of the cylindrically shaped screen, wherein the fourth flange isattached to the second flange and the cylindrically shaped screen has aninner diameter approximately equal to or greater than an inner diameterof the drain.

Yet another embodiment of the present invention provides a drain closureapparatus having a catch basin, a drain, a butterfly valve, a valvecontroller operably connected to the butterfly valve, a cylindricallyshaped screen, a cylindrically shaped filter disposed around thecylindrically shaped screen, and a cover. The catch basin has a top, abottom, an opening in the bottom, and first flange extending radiallyoutward from the top. The drain is disposed within the opening of thecatch basin, wherein the drain has a top, a bottom, a second flangeextending radially outward from the top of the drain that is removeablyattached to the bottom of the catch basin such that the opening of thecatch basin is sealed, and a third flange extending radially outwardfrom the bottom of the drain. A handle is attached to a top of secondflange and extends into the catch basin. The butterfly valve is attachedto the third flange of the drain such that the valve opens and closesthe drain. The valve controller extends into the catch basin through anopening in the second flange. A seal is disposed around a portion of thevalve controller proximate to the opening in the second flange andattached to the second flange. The cylindrically shaped screen has atop, a bottom and a fourth flange extending radially outward from thebottom of the cylindrically shaped screen, wherein the fourth flange isattached to the second flange and the cylindrically shaped screen has aninner diameter approximately equal to or greater than an inner diameterof the drain. The cover rests on a top of the first flange and having aplurality of openings through the cover.

Certain embodiments may include none, some, or all of the abovetechnical advantages. One or more other technical advantages may bereadily apparent to one skilled in the art from the figures,descriptions, and claims included herein.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a more complete understanding of the features and advantages of thepresent invention, reference is now made to the detailed description ofthe invention along with the accompanying figures and in which:

FIG. 1 is an exploded view of a drain closure apparatus in accordancewith one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a drain closure apparatus inaccordance with one embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 3 and 4 are top and bottom views of a drain, respectively, inaccordance with one embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 5 and 6 are side and end views of a drain, respectively, inaccordance with one embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 7 and 8 are perspective views of a valve and valve controller inan open and closed position, respectively, in accordance with oneembodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 9 and 10 are perspective cut-away views of a circular andrectangular drain closure apparatus, respectively, installed in a drainor floor in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a rectangular drain closure apparatusin accordance with another embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view of a rectangular drain closureapparatus in accordance with another embodiment of the presentinvention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

While the making and using of various embodiments of the presentinvention are discussed in detail below, it should be appreciated thatthe present invention provides many applicable inventive concepts thatcan be embodied in a wide variety of specific contexts. The specificembodiments discussed herein are merely illustrative of specific ways tomake and use the invention and do not delimit the scope of theinvention.

To facilitate the understanding of this invention, a number of terms aredefined below. Terms defined herein have meanings as commonly understoodby a person of ordinary skill in the areas relevant to the presentinvention. The terminology herein is used to describe specificembodiments of the invention, but their usage does not delimit theinvention, except as outlined in the claims.

Referring to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals designateidentical or corresponding parts throughout the several views thepreferred embodiments of the present invention are described. Thisinvention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and shouldnot be construed as limited to the embodiment set forth herein.

Now referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, an exploded view and a cross-sectionalview of a drain closure apparatus 100 in accordance with one embodimentof the present invention. The drain closure apparatus 100 can be used toprevent unwanted materials, such as hazardous materials, from entering adrain (e.g., storm drain, sewer, etc.). The drain closure apparatus 100is typically inserted into a new or pre-existing drainage system and canbe attached to a drain pipe or open into the drainage system. The drainclosure apparatus 100 includes a catch basin 102, a drain 104, a valve106, a valve controller 108 operably connected to the valve 106, acylindrically shaped screen 110, a cylindrically shaped filter 112disposed around the cylindrically shaped screen 110, and a cover 114.Note that other shapes and configurations of the screen 110 and filter112 can be used. Moreover, the filter 112 can be made of or contain anydesirable filter media suitable for the environment and operatingconditions in which the drain closure apparatus 100 is to be used. Asshown, the catch basin 102 is a generally cylindrical in shape, but canbe rectangular in shape as shown in FIGS. 10-12. Other shapes anddimensions can be used. The catch basin 102 can be made of any durablematerial (e.g., stainless steel, chemically resistant epoxy coatedsteel, polypropylene, etc.) that is resistant to the expected unwantedmaterials in which the catch basin 102 will come into contact with.

The catch basin 102 has a top 116, a bottom 118, an opening 120 in thebottom 118, and first flange 122 extending radially outward from the top116. As shown in FIGS. 9-10, the first flange 122 is configured to matewith a corresponding shoulder of a drain or floor for supporting thecatch basin 102 in the drain or floor such that the upper surface of thecover 114 is approximately flush with the upper surface of the drain orfloor when the cover 114 is in place.

Now also referring to FIGS. 3-6, the drain 104 is disposed within theopening 120 of the catch basin 102. The drain 104 has a top 124, abottom 126, a second flange 128 extending radially outward from the top124 of the drain 104 that is preferably removeably attached to thebottom 118 of the catch basin 102 such that the opening 120 of the catchbasin is sealed, and a third flange 130 extending radially outward fromthe bottom 126 of the drain 104. A handle 132 is attached to a top 134of second flange 128 and extends into the catch basin 102. This allowsthe drain 104 and valve 106 to be replaced without removing or replacingthe catch basin 102. Note that the second flange 128 can be permanentlyattached to the bottom 118 of the catch basin 102, in which case, thehandle 132 is not necessary.

The cylindrically shaped screen 110 has a top 140, a bottom 142 and afourth flange 144 extending radially outward from the bottom 142 of thecylindrically shaped screen 110, wherein the fourth flange 144 isattached to the second flange 128 and the cylindrically shaped screen110 has an inner diameter 146 approximately equal to or greater than aninner diameter 148 of the drain 104. Alternatively, the screen 110 canbe attached to the second flange 128 and cover the top of the drain 104.The top 140 of the cylindrically shaped screen 110 can be open (asshown), closed or screened. The cylindrically shaped screen 100 can be amesh-type screen or a cylinder having a plurality of openings 158 (e.g.,holes, slots, etc.). A cylindrically shaped filter 112 is disposedaround the cylindrically shaped screen 110. The cylindrically shapedfilter 112 can be any suitable type of material or construction, and canbe eliminated from the drain closure apparatus 100. The cover 144 restson a top 150 of the first flange 122 and having a plurality of openings152 (e.g., holes, slots, etc.) through the cover 114.

Referring now to FIGS. 7 and 8, perspective views of a valve 106 andvalve controller 108 in an open and closed position, respectively, inaccordance with one embodiment of the present invention are shown. Asshown, the valve 106 is a butterfly valve. Note that any type of valve106 can be used as long as it suitable for the environment and operatingconditions in which the drain closure apparatus 100 is to be used.Moreover, the valve 106 and valve controller 108 in some types of valvesmay be configured in a more integrated unit than what is shown in thefigures. The valve 106 may also be remotely controlled and/or monitoredusing a wired or wireless connection to a remote control unit. Inaddition, a sensor can be disposed within the catch basin 102 or thedrain 104 and operably connected to the valve controller 108. A valveposition indicator, which may be visible from within or outside thecatch basin 102, may also be connected to the valve controller 108.Furthermore, a pipe connector can be attached to a bottom of the valve106 such that the drain closure apparatus 100 is connected to and feedsinto a drain, pipe or system (e.g., storm drain, sewer, etc.).

Now referring to FIGS. 11 and 12, a perspective view and across-sectional view of a drain closure apparatus 1100 in accordancewith another embodiment of the present invention is shown. The drainclosure apparatus 1100 is similar to drain closure apparatus 100previously described, but has an upwardly facing channel 1102 disposedalong an interior 1104 of the catch basin 102 proximate to the top 116of the catch basin 102. Note that the upwardly facing channel 1102 canbe shape and is not limited to the rectangular shape shown. The upwardlyfacing channel 1102 has a plurality of openings 1106 disposed in abottom or a side of the upwardly facing channel 1102. A filter or filtermedia 1108 is disposed within the upwardly facing channel 1102. Notethat the filter or filter media 1108 can be made of or contain anydesirable filter media suitable for the environment and operatingconditions in which the drain closure apparatus 100 is to be used. Insome cases, the cover (not shown) resting on a top of the first flange112 may have a plurality of openings through the cover that are alignedwith the upwardly facing channel 1102. Alternatively, the filter orfilter media 1108 can be attached to the cover underneath the openingsin the cover instead of catch basin 102.

Note that the present invention is not limited to the connectors andconnector holes shown in the figures. As will be appreciated by thoseskilled in the art, the various components can be connected or affixedto one another using any known or future developed connector, fitting,weld or bonding compound, as long as such methods are suitable for theenvironment and operating conditions in which the drain closureapparatus is to be used. Moreover, gaskets and/or sealing compounds canbe used between the component connections to provide additional moistureresistance and prevent leaking.

All publications, patents and patent applications mentioned in thespecification are indicative of the level of skill of those skilled inthe art to which this invention pertains. All publications, patents andpatent applications are herein incorporated by reference to the sameextent as if each individual publication, patent or patent applicationwas specifically and individually indicated to be incorporated byreference.

Terms such as “a”, “an,” and “the” are not intended to refer to only asingular entity, but include the general class of which a specificexample may be used for illustration. In addition, the use of the word“a” or “an” when used in conjunction with the term “comprising” in theclaims and/or the specification may mean “one,” but it is alsoconsistent with the meaning of “one or more,” “at least one,” and “oneor more than one.” The use of the term “or” in the claims is used tomean “and/or” unless explicitly indicated to refer to alternatives onlyor the alternatives are mutually exclusive, although the disclosuresupports a definition that refers to only alternatives and “and/or.”Throughout this application, the term “about” is used to indicate that avalue includes the inherent variation of error for the device, themethod being employed to determine the value, or the variation thatexists among the study subjects.

As used in this specification and claim(s), the words “comprising” (andany form of comprising, such as “comprise” and “comprises”), “having”(and any form of having, such as “have” and “has”), “including” (and anyform of including, such as “includes” and “include”) or “containing”(and any form of containing, such as “contains” and “contain”) areinclusive or open-ended and do not exclude additional, unrecitedelements or method steps.

The term “or combinations thereof” as used herein refers to allpermutations and combinations of the listed items preceding the term.For example, “A, B, C, or combinations thereof” is intended to includeat least one of: A, B, C, AB, AC, BC, or ABC, and if order is importantin a particular context, also BA, CA, CB, CBA, BCA, ACB, BAC, or CAB.Continuing with this example, expressly included are combinations thatcontain repeats of one or more item or term, such as BB, AAA, AB, BBC,AAABCCCC, CBBAAA, CABABB, and so forth. The skilled artisan willunderstand that typically there is no limit on the number of items orterms in any combination, unless otherwise apparent from the context.

It may be understood that particular embodiments described herein areshown by way of illustration and are not meant to limit the scope of thepresent invention in any manner. The principal features of thisinvention can be employed in various embodiments without departing fromthe scope of the invention. Those skilled in the art will recognize, orbe able to ascertain using no more than routine experimentation,numerous equivalents, modifications and variants of the presentinvention are possible in light of the foregoing disclosure. Suchequivalents, modifications and variants are considered to be within thescope of this invention and are covered by the claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A drain closure apparatus comprising: a catchbasin having a top, a bottom, an opening in the bottom, and first flangeextending radially outward from the top; a drain disposed within theopening of the catch basin, wherein the drain has a top, a bottom, asecond flange extending radially outward from the top of the drain thatattaches to the bottom of the catch basin such that the opening of thecatch basin is sealed, and a third flange extending radially outwardfrom the bottom of the drain; a valve attached to the third flange ofthe drain such that the valve opens and closes the drain; and a valvecontroller operably connected to the valve.
 2. The apparatus as recitedin claim 1, further comprising a screen attached to the second flangeand covering the top of the drain.
 3. The apparatus as recited in claim1, further comprising a cylindrically shaped screen having a top, abottom and a fourth flange extending radially outward from the bottom ofthe cylindrically shaped screen, wherein the fourth flange is attachedto the second flange and the cylindrically shaped screen has an innerdiameter approximately equal to or greater than an inner diameter of thedrain.
 4. The apparatus as recited in claim 3, wherein a top of thescreen is open.
 5. The apparatus as recited in claim 3, furthercomprising a cylindrically shaped filter disposed around thecylindrically shaped screen.
 6. The apparatus as recited in claim 1,further comprising: a handle attached to a top of second flange andextending into the catch basin; and the second flange is removeablyattached to the bottom of the catch basin.
 7. The apparatus as recitedin claim 1, further comprising: an upwardly facing channel disposedalong an interior of the catch basin proximate to the top of the catchbasin, wherein the upwardly facing channel has a plurality of openingsdisposed in a bottom or a side of the upwardly facing channel; and afilter disposed within the upwardly facing channel.
 8. The apparatus asrecited in claim 7, further comprising a cover resting on a top of thefirst flange and having a plurality of openings through the cover thatare aligned with the upwardly facing channel.
 9. The apparatus asrecited in claim 1, further comprising a cover resting on a top of thefirst flange and having a plurality of openings through the cover. 10.The apparatus as recited in claim 9, wherein the cover is removeablyattached to the top of the flange or the top of the catch basin.
 11. Theapparatus as recited in claim 1, further comprising: an opening in thesecond flange; the valve controller extends through the opening in theflange into the catch basin; and a seal disposed around a portion of thevalve controller proximate to the opening and attached to the secondflange.
 12. The apparatus as recited in claim 11, further comprising avalve position indicator connected to the valve controller.
 13. Theapparatus as recited in claim 1, further comprising at least one of thefollowing: a sensor disposed within the catch basin or the drain andoperably connected to the valve controller; the valve controller isremotely controlled; the valve comprises a butterfly valve; the catchbasin is circular shaped or rectangular shaped; or a pipe connectorattached to a bottom of the valve.
 14. A drain closure apparatuscomprising: a catch basin having a top, a bottom, an opening in thebottom, and first flange extending radially outward from the top; adrain disposed within the opening of the catch basin, wherein the drainhas a top, a bottom, a second flange extending radially outward from thetop of the drain that attaches to the bottom of the catch basin suchthat the opening of the catch basin is sealed, and a third flangeextending radially outward from the bottom of the drain; a valveattached to the third flange of the drain such that the valve opens andcloses the drain; a valve controller operably connected to the valve andextending into the catch basin through an opening in the second flange;a seal disposed around a portion of the valve controller proximate tothe opening in the second flange and attached to the second flange; acylindrically shaped screen having a top, a bottom and a fourth flangeextending radially outward from the bottom of the cylindrically shapedscreen, wherein the fourth flange is attached to the second flange andthe cylindrically shaped screen has an inner diameter approximatelyequal to or greater than an inner diameter of the drain; and acylindrically shaped filter disposed around the cylindrically shapedscreen.
 15. The apparatus as recited in claim 14, wherein a top of thecylindrically shaped screen is open and a top of the cylindricallyshaped filter is open.
 16. The apparatus as recited in claim 14, furthercomprising: a handle attached to a top of second flange and extendinginto the catch basin; and the second flange is removeably attached tothe bottom of the catch basin.
 17. The apparatus as recited in claim 14,further comprising: an upwardly facing channel disposed along aninterior of the catch basin proximate to the top of the catch basin,wherein the upwardly facing channel has a plurality of openings disposedin a bottom or a side of the upwardly facing channel; and a filterdisposed within the upwardly facing channel.
 18. The apparatus asrecited in claim 17, further comprising a cover resting on a top of thefirst flange and having a plurality of openings through the cover thatare aligned with the upwardly facing channel.
 19. The apparatus asrecited in claim 14, further comprising a cover resting on a top of thefirst flange and having a plurality of openings through the cover. 20.The apparatus as recited in claim 19, wherein the cover is removeablyattached to the top of the flange or the top of the catch basin.
 21. Theapparatus as recited in claim 14, further comprising at least one of thefollowing: a valve position indicator connected to the valve controller;a sensor disposed within the catch basin or the drain and operablyconnected to the valve controller; the valve controller is remotelycontrolled; the valve comprises a butterfly valve; the catch basin iscircular shaped or rectangular shaped; or a pipe connector attached to abottom of the valve.
 22. A drain closure apparatus comprising: a catchbasin having a top, a bottom, an opening in the bottom, and first flangeextending radially outward from the top; a drain disposed within theopening of the catch basin, wherein the drain has a top, a bottom, asecond flange extending radially outward from the top of the drain thatis removeably attached to the bottom of the catch basin such that theopening of the catch basin is sealed, and a third flange extendingradially outward from the bottom of the drain; a handle attached to atop of second flange and extending into the catch basin; a butterflyvalve attached to the third flange of the drain such that the butterflyvalve opens and closes the drain; a valve controller operably connectedto the valve and extending into the catch basin through an opening inthe second flange; a seal disposed around a portion of the valvecontroller proximate to the opening in the second flange and attached tothe second flange; a cylindrically shaped screen having a top, a bottomand a fourth flange extending radially outward from the bottom of thecylindrically shaped screen, wherein the fourth flange is attached tothe second flange and the cylindrically shaped screen has an innerdiameter approximately equal to or greater than an inner diameter of thedrain; a cylindrically shaped filter disposed around the cylindricallyshaped screen; a cover resting on a top of the first flange and having aplurality of openings through the cover.
 23. The apparatus as recited inclaim 22, wherein a top of the cylindrically shaped screen is open and atop of the cylindrically shaped filter is open.
 24. The apparatus asrecited in claim 22, further comprising: an upwardly facing channeldisposed along an interior of the catch basin proximate to the top ofthe catch basin, wherein the upwardly facing channel has a plurality ofopenings disposed in a bottom or a side of the upwardly facing channel;a filter disposed within the upwardly facing channel; and the pluralityof openings through the cover are aligned with the upwardly facingchannel.
 25. The apparatus as recited in claim 22, further comprising atleast one of the following: a valve position indicator connected to thevalve controller; a sensor disposed within the catch basin or the drainand operably connected to the valve controller; the valve controller isremotely controlled; the catch basin is circular shaped or rectangularshaped; a pipe connector attached to a bottom of the valve; or the coveris removeably attached to the top of the flange or the top of the catchbasin.